A former North Carolina lawmaker originally convicted on federal charges involving theft and diverting funds and facing a retrial next month has pleaded guilty to a single count.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker announced Monday that former state Rep. Stephen LaRoque pleaded guilty to the theft of $150,000 from a federally funded rural development program he founded.

A former North Carolina lawmaker convicted on a dozen federal counts is trying to get his case dismissed.
WRAL in Raleigh reports attorneys for former Rep. Stephen LaRoque allege prosecutors improperly extended the term of the grand jury that indicted him.

The new trial for former North Carolina Rep. Stephen LaRoque has been delayed again.
Attorney Elliot Abrams, a member of LaRoque's defense team, said Thursday that the retrial has been moved from October to Feb. 2, 2015.

North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis says he will form a special committee to examine last week's federal indictment against a fellow legislator and recommend what action, if any, is warranted by the chamber.